Editorial: Firebugs ruin it for rest of us

Rotorua Lakes High School has been forced to erect a 2.2m high fence around the perimeter of the grounds to combat vandalism and graffiti.

Who could blame the school's management?

In April, a classroom was destroyed after someone set fire to it. It was the second time the school had been targeted by fire bugs.

The offenders still haven't been caught.

Taggers and other vandals have also hit the school hard in recent years.

It was time for the school to take action. Now it is no longer open for members of the public outside of school hours.

The tough approach has also come at a cost of $60,000. That's money that could have been spent on more worthwhile projects.

Rotorua's Westbrook Primary School has taken the opposite approach.

During the recent school holidays, vandals tagged 10 walls at the school causing up to $3000 damage.

Principal Colin Watkins was convinced the offenders were from out-of-town.

He said the school chooses not to have security fences, unlike most other schools in Rotorua, because they wanted the community to use their facilities.

I spent my early years at a country school that had fewer than 15 students at the entire school - smaller than most classrooms nowadays.

Our school was the central hub of our community.

Not only would we hang out at the adventure playground with our families at the weekend, but the swimming pool was open for us to use whenever. We spent many a Christmas Day lounging by the school pool - and dutifully putting the cover back on before we left.

While Rotorua Lakes High School principal Bruce Walker admitted their fence was having a positive impact on truanting and late students (as they now have to enter through the office during school hours), the fence isn't a move the school wants to take.

I hope the lowlife or lowlives who set fire to the school four months ago is happy with themselves. They've just gone and spoilt the enjoyment of the school for everyone else.

What do you think?

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